Voting-machine.



No. 688,093. Patented Dec. 3,l90l.

G. JOHNSON 6. J. E. HALLDIN. VOTING MACHINE.

A umim filed m 17, 1901.

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

1 iiiahhl.

WITNESSES //v VEN 70/?5 No. 688,093. Patantad One. 3, 190i.

6. JOHNSON 6|. J. E. HALLOIN.

VOTING MACHINE.

(Appliubion Mod July 1'7, 1901.) (No lludel.) 3 Shoots-Shoat 2.

5 R 2 Q n R I Q W M o N Mi N N W Ma TN MN. w o I we No. 688,093.Patented Dec. 3, IBM.

' G. JOHNSON &. J. E. HALLDIN.-

VOTING MACHINE.

Amman filed July 1-1, 1901.; (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A TTORN m: No"ms warms co, PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, D. c

'ferent position.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAF JOHNSON, OF PIGEONOOVE, AND JOHN ERIK IIALLDIN, OF SOUTH BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS.

VOTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,098, dated December3, 190i.

Application filed July 17, 1901. Serial No. 68,598. (No mbdel.)

To ttZZ whm'n it may c0ncer'n:

Be it known that we, GUSTAF JOHNSON, a resident of Pigeoncove, in thecounty of Essex, and J OHN ERIK HALLDIN, a resident of South Boston, inthe county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts,citizens of the UnitedStates, have invented new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedvoting-machine arranged to enable each voter to readily manipulate thevoting devices to properly cast the vote, to cause registration of thetotal votes cast for each candidate, amendment, or the like, and toprevent fraudulent voting.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out inthe claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlargedrear elevation of the detail mechanism of the voting devices for one setof candidates. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the same. Fig. 4is a rear face View of the manually-controlled cam-wheel and adjacentparts. Fig. 5 is a like view of the same with the parts in a dif- Fig. 6is a transverse section of the improvement on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.Fig. 7 is a similar view of the same on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8is a rear sectional face view of the manually-controlled cam-wheel andadjacent parts, the section being on the line 8 8 of Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is atransverse section of the same on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is atransverse section of the friction device for the segmental arm actuatedby the manually-controlled cam-wheel and spindle. Fig. 11 is asectionalplan View of the improvement on the line 11 11 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 12 isa similar view'of the same on the line 12 12 of Fig. 2.

The voting-machine is mounted in a suitably-constructed closed casing A,provided at its front near the top with a heading A,

voted for.

indicating the names of the offices to be filled, and belowthe'.l1eading A are arranged vertical rows of spaced legends Aindicating the names of the candidates for the corresponding officesnamed above in the heading A. At each legend A projects the forward endof a key-spindle 13, adapted to be engaged by a key 0 (see dotted linesin Fig. 10) in the hands of a voter, the arrangement being such that thevoter can turn in each vertical row as many spindles as there arepersons to be elected for the corresponding officesthat is, in the rowfor comptroller, for instance, a single voter can only turn one of thespindles, as only one comptroller is to be In case three co'uncilmen areto be elected, the voter can turn any three keyspindles, but no more, inthe row under the heading Council. Then the voter has voted in themanner indicated, the attendant of the machine resets the same, so thatthe next voter can proceed in the same manner.

Each key-spindle B is mounted to turn in bearings in the front wall ofthe casing A, (see Figs. 10 and 11,) and the rear or inner end B of eachspindle is connected with a registering device D (see Fig. 2) of anyapproved construction and arranged to register one vote for eachhalf-turn given by a voter with the key to the corresponding key-spindle13. Thus each key-spindle and the parts connected therewith form asingle voting device presently to be described in detail, each votingdevice having the name of the candidate adjacent to the key-spindle, aswill be readily understood by reference to Fig. 1, and the severalvoting devices in each vertical row being governed by a setting deviceE, arranged in the casing A, (see Figs. 2, 3, 6, 7, and 12,) and theseveralsetting devices in the casing being adapted to be reset by theattendant of the voting-machine on the turning of a crank-arm F, (seeFig. 1,) secured on the outer end of the shaft F, extendinglongitudinally in the casing A.

Each voting device is locked automatically against a second turningafter the voter has given the key-spindle a half-turn, and if only asingle candidate is to be voted for in any particular voting-row thenthe setting device for this row is so set that all the other votingdevices in this particular row are locked after the voter has givenone-half turn to a keyspindle in this row. If, however, severalcandidatessay threeare to be voted for in a particular row, then thesetting device E for this row is set to allow the voter to turn anythree of the key-spindles located in this row, and when the voter hasturned the last of the three key-spindles the remaining voting devicesin this row are all looked. It is expressly understood that each votingdevice is locked after its key-spindle has been given a half-turn, sothat a voter cannot vote three times for one candidate.

The voting devices are all alike in construction, and hence it sufficesto describe but one in detail.

On each key-spindle Bis formed or secured a wheel B having twooppositely-arranged cam-lugs B projecting from the face of the wheel Band on the periphery of the latter are arranged locking-teeth B standingapproximately opposite each other and at right angles to the lugs 13*.(See Figs. 2, t, 5, and 11.) Next to the wheel B is secured or formed onthe spindle a mutilated gear-wheel B The cam-lugs B are adapted toengage and impart a swinging motion to an arm G, secured on avertically-disposed shaft G, journaled in suitable bearings within thecasing A, and on the lower end of the said shaft G is secured an arm Gadapted to engage a pin G projecting transversely from an arm G,depending from and secured on a horizontally-extending shaft 11,journaled in suitable bearings in the casing A. (See Figs. 2 and 12.)

On the shaft 11 is secured an arm H, carrying a spring-pressed pawl H inmesh with a ratchet-wheel H having its hub I1 mounted to rotate looselyon the shaft H, the said hub H carrying a beveled pinion H in mesh witha beveled gear-wheel I, secured on a shaft I, journaled in suitablebearings carried by the main casing A. A spring I is coiled on the shaftI, and one end of the spring is secured to the shaft and the other endto the bearing for the same, so that when the pawl H releases theratchet-wheel H as hereinafter more fully described, the shaft 1 isturned in the reverse direction to bring a stop I on the face of thewheel I back against the projecting end of the shaft H. (See Fig. 2.)

On the shaft I is looselyfulcrumed an arm 1*, adapted to be secured tothe Wheel I bya clamping-plate I fastened by a set-screw I to the arm Inear the free end thereof. The arm I is adapted to engage an arm J,pressed on by a spring J and secured on a longitudinally-extending shaftJ journaled in suitable bearings in the casing A, and on the said shaftJ is secured an upwardly-extending arm J having a beveled end adapted toengage the lower end of a link K, pivotally connected with the severallocking-arms K, adapted to engage the uppermost of the teeth 13 to lockthe key-spindle against turning.

(See Fig. 5.) Each of the arms K is fulcrulned on the pivot L of asegmental gearwheel L, adapted to be engaged by the mutilated gear-wheelB, (see Fig. 8,) so that when the spindle Bis given a half-turn themutilated gear-wheel imparts an upward swinging motion to the segmentalgear-wheel L.

The free end of the segmental gear-wheel L is formed with anextension-arm L adapted to engage a pin 0 in a bar 0, mounted to slidevertically in suitable bearings on the inner face of the front of thecasing A, as is plainly shown in Figs. 2, 6, and 7. The lower end of thebar 0 is formed with a slot 0 engaged by the free end of an arm 0fastened on the shaft F, so that when the latter is turned by theattendant of the machine turning the crank-arm F then the arm O inswinging downward pulls the bar 0 back into alowermost position, therebycausing the bar 0 to impart a downward swinging or return motion to thearm L at the time the teeth of the mutilated gear-wheel B are out ofmesh with the teeth of the segmental gear-wheel L. On the segmentalgear-wheel L is arranged a pin or lug L adapted to engage a lockingarm Kfulcrumed at K on the casing and pressed in an upward direction by aspring K to normally hold the arm K in looking engagement with thelowermost tooth B to prevent turning of the key spindle. (See Fig. 5.)When the segmental gear-wheel L is swung upward by the turning of thekeyspindle and the mutilated gear-\vl1eell3 ,tl1en the pin L moves awayfrom the arm K and the free end thereof now rises on the pe ripheralface of the cam-wheel B until the half-turn of the spindle is completed,after which the arm K snaps up into engagement with the tooth B nowmoving into a lowermost position. During the upward swinging of thesegmental gear-wheel L the bar 0 is moved upward by the extension-arm Lpushing on the pin 0. The segmental gear-wheel, and by it the arm K isheld in a lowermost position by a friction-arm L (see Fig. 10,) pivotedat L on the adjacent bearing for the bar 0, the said friction-arm beingpressed in contact with the face of the segmental gearwheel L by aspring L so that when the gearwheel L is in a lowermost position and thepin L has swung the arm K in a like position then these two parts-thesegmental gearwheel L and the arm IQ-remain in this position even if thebar 0 should move upward when another key-spindle B in the same row isturned; but when the key-spindle is turned with the parts in theposition described the mutilated gear-wheel B imparts an upward swingingmotion to the arm L and as soon as the pin L moves away from the arm Kthe spring K swings the arm K upward to engage it with the tooth Bmoving into a lowermost position, to prevent this key-spindle from beingturned a second time by the same voter.

It is understood that the upper arms K are held normally out ofengagement with the uppermost teeth 13, owing to the position of thearms J relative to the link K; but when the arm I is carried around bythe gearwheel I to impart a downward swinging motion to the arm Jagainst the tension of the spring J the shaft J is turned and the arm Jmoves away from under the link K, so that the latter and the arms K movedownward by their own gravity to engage the arms K with the uppermostteeth B" to look all the spindles against turning. Now the arm I is seton the wheel I in such a manner that, according to the number ofcandidates to be elected for office, the said arm will sooner or laterswing the arm J downward to release the link K for the arms K to engagethe teeth B as above explained. Thus the arm I is set on the wheel I topress the arm J downward as soon as a single key-spindle B has beengiven a half-turn and a corresponding cam-lug B has turned the shaft G,which by the intermediate mechanism above described turns the gear-wheelI the desired distance for the arm I to press the arm J The proportionof the parts is such that the wheel I is turned the distance between twoteeth at each half-turn given to a key-spindle in the vertical row ofvoting devices.

If the voter is entitled to turn but one keyspindle in a vertical row,the arm I is set so that it depresses the arm J as soon as a singlekey-spindle is given a half-turn; but if the voter is entitled to turnthree key-spindles in one vertical row the arm I is set on the wheel Iso that after the third spindle is turned the arm I will press the arm Jto lock the several voting devices to prevent further turning of anykey-spindle in the vertical row.

In order to reset the setting devices E and the voting devices,the shaftF is provided with an arm P, (see Figs. 2, 3, and 6,) adapted to engagea lever P having two inclines P P of which the incline P is adapted toengage a pin H on the pawl Hiand the incline P is adapted to engage apin H on the spring-pressed dog H normally holding the ratchet-wheel Hagainst return movement. Now when the attendant of the machine turns theshaft F the arm P imparts a swinging motion to the lever P, so that theinclines P and P by engaging the pins H and H cause the pawl 1-1 and thedog H to swing out of mesh with the ratchetwheel H to allow the spring Ito turn the wheel I to the starting-point, with the pin 1 abuttingagainst the shaft H, as previously mentioned and shown in Fig. 2. Duringthe return movement of the wheel I the arm I moves upward away from thearm J, so that the spring J thereof turns the shaft J in the oppositedirection, and the arm J now pushes the link K upward to swing thelocking-arms K out of locking engagement with the uppermost teeth B Theturning of the shaft F also causes the arm 0 to impart a downwardswinging motion to the bar 0, so that the segmental gear-wheels L areswung downward and the arms K are moved out of engagement with thelowermost teeth B". The machine is now reset for the next voter. Aspring II presses on an arm 11, held on the shaft H, to return thelatter after the same is turned by the arm G, as previously explained.

The operation is as follows: Before sealing the machine on election daythe several arms I of the setting device are adjusted on the wheels Iaccording to the number of times a Voter is entitled to vote for acorresponding number of candidates in a particular row for a certainoffice. Thus for the mayoralty contest the setting device E for thevertical row of voting devices pertaining to this setting device is setto cause the arm I to press the arm J as soon as a single key-spindlehas been turned half-way around by a voter. The setting device E for thevoting devices under the heading Council is set so that the arm Ipresses the arm J as soon as, say, three keyspindles have been turnedhalf-way around, and in a similar manner the other setting devices areadjusted to conform to the conditions. Now when themachine is set and avoter turns a key-spindle half-way around in the direction of the arrowa (see Fig. 2) by the use of a key 0 then the lowermost camlug 13engages the corresponding arm G to turn the shaft G for imparting aturning motion to the wheel I to turn the latter the distanee betweentwo teeth. At the same time the mutilated gear-wheel B engages thesegmental gear-wheel L and swings the same upward to push the bar 0 in alike direction and to release the lock-arm K When the halfrevolution ofthe spindle has been made, the lock-arm K by its spring K snaps in onthe lowermost teeth B to lock this key-spindle against further turning.If the voter is entitled to turn several key-spindles in this verticalrow to which the first one belongs, then the same operation is repeatedas above describedthat is, the shaft G is again turned and likewise thegear-wheel Iand the second key-spindle is finally locked against furtherturning. If the voteris entitled to turn three spindles, he turnsanother one, and in doing so the wheel I is again turned; but this timethe arm I is moved into engagement with the arm J and presses the samedownward, so that the arm J has moved from under the link K, and thelatter and the lockarms K are now free to move downward to engage allthe lock-arms K with the corresponding uppermost teeth B of the severalkey-spindles of that particular row. Thus the voter cannot turn anotherspindle in this row. \Vhen the voter has finally actuated all thekey-spindles he is entitled to in the several rows, then the attendantof the machine causes a turning of the shaft F, so that the arm J movesback to its normal position, and. in doing so it moves the link Kupward,

so as to swing the locking-arms K out of engagement With the uppermostteeth B The turning of the shaft F also causes the arms 0 to slide thebar 0 downward to swing the segmental gear-wheel L into a lowermostposition, the said gear-wheels in doing so swingin g the spring-pressedarms K out of en gagement with the lowermost teeth B", so that theseveral parts are reset, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. A voting-machine, comprising a plurality ofmanually-controlled key-spindles, located one above the other, aregistering device for each key-spindle and operated thereby, a verticalshaft, means for operating the vertical shaft from the key-spindles, asetting device, and mechanism for operating the setting device from thevertical shaft, as set forth.

2. A voting-machine, comprising a plurality of manually-controlledkey-spindles, a registering device for each key-spindle and operatedthereby, cams on the spindles, a vertical shaft provided with armsprojecting into the path of the cams on the key-spindle, asettingdevice, and means for operating the setting device from the said shaft,as set forth.

3. Avoting-machinecomprisingaplurality of manually-controlledkey-spindles having cam-wheels located one above the other, a shafthaving a plurality of arms, one for each cam-wheel, said arms beingadapted to be engaged by the cam-wheels to turn the said shaft and asetting device actuated from the said shaft and controlling the lockingand unlocking of the said cam-wheels, as set forth.

4. A voting-machine comprising a plurality of manually-controlledkey-spindles having cam-wheels located one above the other, a shafthaving a plurality of arms, one for each cam-wheel, a setting deviceactuated from the said shaft and controlling the locking and unlockingof the said cam-wheels, and a looking device controlled from saidsetting device to lock the cam-wheels against rotation, as set forth.

5. A voting-machine comprising a plurality of manually-controlledkey-spindles having cam-wheels located one above the other, a shafthaving a plurality of arms, one for each cam-Wheel, a setting deviceactuated from the said shaft and controlling the locking and unlockingof the said cam-Wheels, a locking device controlled from said resettingdevice to lock the cam-wheels against rotation, and a resetting deviceunder the control of the attendant and arranged to release the saidlooking device and the said setting device, as set forth.

to engage the free end of the said segmental gear-wheel to reset thelatter for engagement by the mutilated gear-wheel at the next turningthereof, as set forth.

7. A voting-machine comprising a manually-controlled mutilatedgear-wheel mounted to turn, a segmental gear-wheel adapted to be engagedby the said mutilated gear-wheel to impart a swinging motion to thesame, a resetting-bar mounted to slide and adapted to engage the freeend of the said segmental gearwheel to reset the latter for engagementby the mutilated gear-wheel at the next turning thereof,and aspring-pressed locking-arm con trolled by the said segmental gear-Wheeland adapted to engage and lock the said segmental gear-wheel againstturning, as set forth.

8. A voting-machine comprising a manually-controlled mutilatedgear-wheel mounted to turn, a segmental gear-wheel adapted to be engagedby the said mutilated gear-Wheel to impart a swinging motion to thesame, a resetting-bar mounted to slide and adapted to engage the freeend of the said segmental gearwheel to reset the latter for engagementby the mutilated gear-wheel at the next turning thereof, aspring-pressed locking-arm controlled by the said segmental gear-wheeland adapted to engage and lock the said segmental gear-wheel againstturning, and a friction device to hold the said segmental gear-wheel ineither an uppermost or a lowermost position, as set forth.

9. A voting-machine comprising a plurality of manually-controlledcam-wheels mounted to turn, locking devices for the cam-wheels, a shaftcarrying a plurality of arms, one for each cam-wheel, to turn the shafton turning a cam-wheel, and a setting device adapted to be set to agiven number of votes, the setting device controlling the said lockingdevice to lock the cam-wheels, as set forth.

10. A voting-machine comprising a plurality of key-spindles, each formedwith a mutilated gear-wheel, a locking and cam wheel, a shaft carrying aplurality of arms, one for each cam-wheel, a setting device actuatedfrom the said shaft, locking-arms for engaging the locking-wheel, one ofthe lockingarms being controlled from the said setting device, segmentalgear-wheels adapted to be engaged by the mutilated gear-wheels, eachsegmental gear-wheel controlling the other of the locking-arms, and aresetting-bar for resetting the said segmental gear-wheels and thelocking-arms controlled thereby, and a resetting device under thecontrol of the at tendant for resetting the said setting device and thesaid bar, as set forth.

11. A voting-machine having a setting device comprising a gear-wheeladapted to be intermittently turned from the voting devices, an arm heldadjustably on the said gear-wheel, and a device for resetting the votingdevices and controlled by the said arm, as set forth.

12. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, and amutilated gear- Wheel thereon, of a segmental gear-wheel adapted to beengaged by the mutilated gear, a manually-operated shaft, and aconnection between the said shaft and the segmental gear-wheel, as setforth.

13. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, and amutilated gear- Wheel thereon, of a segmental gear-wheel adapted to beengaged by the mutilated gear, and provided with an extension, a slidingbar provided with a projection for engaging the extension of thesegmental gear-wheel, a manually-operated shaft, and a connectionbetween the shaft and the sliding bar, as set forth.

14. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, a toothedwheel on the key-spindle, and a mutilated gear-wheel also on the saidspindle, of a segmental gear-wheel adapted to be engaged by themutilated gear and provided with a lateral projection, amanually-operated shaft, a connection between the shaft and thesegmental gear-wheel for operating the latter from the former, and aspring-pressed arm adapted to engage a tooth of the said wheel andengaged by the projection of the segmental gear to cause it to movedownward in unison therewith, as set forth.

15. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, a wheelmounted thereon and provided with oppositely-arranged teeth, and amutilated gear-wheel also on the spindle, of a segmental gear-wheeladapted to be engaged by the mutilated gear, means for swinging thesegmental gear downward when the mutilated gear is out of meshtherewith, pivoted arms adapted to engage the teeth of the said wheel tolock the spindle, one of the arms being spring-pressed and in engagementwith the segmental gear-wheel, and means for operating the other arm todisengage it from said wheel, as set forth.

16. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, a wheel onthe spindle and provided with oppositely-arranged teeth, and a mutilatedgear-wheel also on the spindle, of a segmental gear-wheel adapted to beengaged by the mutilated gear and provided with a laterally projectingpin, means for swinging the segmental gear downward when the mutilatedgear is out of mesh therewith, a pivoted arm adapted to engage a toothof the said wheel, means for operating the arm to disengage it from thesaid wheel, and a pivoted and spring-pressed arm also adapted to engagea tooth of the said wheel, said arm being engaged by the pin of thesegmental gear,

' as set forth.

17. In a voting-machine, the combination with a keyspindle, a wheel onthe spindle,and

provided with oppositely-arranged teeth, and a mutilated gear also onthe spindle, of a segmental gear-wheel adapted to be engaged by the mntilated gear, a manually-operated shaft, a connection between the shaftand the segmental gear-wheel for operating the latter from the former,pivoted arms adapted to engage the teeth of the said wheel, one of thearms being spring-pressed and in engagement with the segmentalgear-wheel, a setting de vice, means for operating one of the pivotedarms from the setting device, and means for operating the setting devicefrom the keyspindle, as set forth.

18. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, a verticalshaft, and means for operating the said shaft from the key-spindle, of ahorizontal shaft, a connection between the horizontal and verticalshafts to operate the former from the latter, a ratchetwheel looselymounted on the horizontal shaft and carrying a bevel gear-wheel, aspringpressed horizontal shaft provided with a bevel gear-wheel meshingwith the gear-wheel of the first horizontal shaft, an arm secured to thefirst horizontal shaft and carrying a pawl engaging the ratchet-wheel,and means for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet-wheel, as set forth.

19. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, a toothedwheel thereon, and a pivoted arm for engaging the wheel to lock thespindle, of a shaft, means for operating it from the spindle, arock-shaft operated from the first shaft, and means for operating thepivoted arm to disengage it from the said wheel from the rock-shaft,asset forth.

20. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, a toothedwheel thereon, and a pivoted arm for engaging the wheel to lock thespindle, of a horizontal shaft, means for operating it from thekey-spindle, a ratchetwheel loose on the shaft and carrying abevelpinion, an arm secured to the shaft and carrying a pawl engagingthe ratchet-wheel, a spring-pressed shaft carrying a bevel gearwheelmeshing with the said pinion, an arm adjustably secured to thegear-wheel, a rockshaft provided with an arm adapted to be engaged bythe arm carried by the gear-wheel, and means for operating the arm thatengages the toothed wheel of the spindle from the rock-shaft, as setforth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAF JOHNSON. JOHN ERIK HALLDIN. \Vitnesses:

DAVID J OHNSON, DENNIS J. lVIAI-IONEY.

ICO

